As Summer Orientation nears, the Office of Student Affairs prepares to address new students' concerns about campus services, academic resources, residence and commuter life, financial aid and many other topics. But the professional staff would not be able to manage without significant contributions from current Arcadia students.

Orientation Leaders are the primary contact that new students have with the University during both Summer and Fall Orientation. They are selected for their enthusiasm, knowledge and ability to work with people. Out of this group of students, several are selected to the Orientation Planning Executive Committee (OPEC) to help steer and structure activities during Summer and Fall Orientation.

Bjellquist, a Resident Assistant and the OPEC Student Coordinator says, "Orientation is an amazing experience for the incoming students. It's a new beginning to what will hopefully be a very successful college career. For the Orientation Leaders and the members of OPEC, we consider it a great opportunity to be these students first point of contact on campus, to get them as excited about our school as we are and to welcome them to the Arcadia community!"

Pathways to Study Abroad Help All Majors, Shultz Says

Shultz

Arcadia's study abroad programs provide examples of making global experiences accessible to students across all majors, Dr. Norah Shultz, Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Education, said during a panel discussion last week at NAFSA: Association of International Educators' 60th annual meeting last week in Washington, D.C. Shultz served on a panel discussing “Study Abroad for All: Attracting Underrepresented Fields and Specialties.”

According to Inside Higher Ed on June 2, Shultz talked about “creating Pathways to Study Abroad for every major. The detailed documents provide guidance as to what courses an education major, for instance, would need to take each semester in order to study abroad spring semester of sophomore year—or even complete half one’s student teaching in England."

“Arcadia also offers a Majors Abroad Program, in which students interested in certain fields—sports psychology or global media, for instance—complete their major requirements during a full year abroad. In addition to getting students overseas, the program allows Arcadia to offer majors it otherwise couldn’t, Shultz said,” the publication reported. “Overall, Shultz said, due in part to these initiatives to clearly integrate study abroad into all majors, the university has increased the proportion of its students who earned credit abroad from less than 1 percent in 1993—a particularly dismal figure given that the university is widely known for the many study abroad programs provided through the Arcadia University Center for Education Abroad—to about 50 percent today.”

ACT 101 Students Honored at Banquet

The Act 101 program, which helps participating students achieve college success through individual and group tutorials, workshops and counseling, held its annual awards banquet for students attending area colleges and universities on April 8. Three Arcadia University students were honored at the banquet—Alycia Lauren Costagliola ’09, Elishia N. Peterson ’09 and Mecca Saleema Smith ’11.

Costagliola, a Business Administration major, says “I struggled my first year [at Arcadia], but the Act 101 program picked me up and helped me find resources on campus and taught me how to interact with professors.” During the ceremony, she was described as “driven by intrinsic motivation and possessing an infectious spirit of honesty and curiosity.” She has worked in the Student Service Center and participates in Exalted Movements Step Club and the Black Awareness Society.

Peterson, a Print Communications major and staff writer for the Tower student newspaper, improved her time management while participating in the Act 101 program. She is an active member of the campus community and President of Exalted Movements Step Club.

Smith, who completed her first year at Arcadia this spring, is majoring in Elementary Education. Described as “organized and diligent when working to overcome obstacles and adversity,” she plans to teach once she graduates. Smith says, “Act 101 has helped me academically by supplying me with books for the semester as well as helping me personally by always being there.”

Discuss the New Curriculum over Coffee or Lunch

The Arcadia University Curriculum Committee invites faculty and staff to participate in small group discussions about the new curriculum. The discussions will be open-ended and should help all involved contribute to understanding the curriculum. The committee will cover the cost of lunch or coffee as noted below.

Sessions will be held in the Dining Hall—look for a group of tables near windows with a sign. At least one of the faculty members on the committee will attend to discuss key issues. In order to ensure reasonably sized groups, RSVP to Diana Bonner at 215-572-2933.

Sessions are scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, June 4, at 9 a.m. – Coffee available

Wednesday, June 4, at noon – Lunch available

Monday, June 9, at noon – Lunch available

Wednesday, July 2, at noon – Lunch available

Thursday, July 17, at 9 a.m. – Coffee available

Monday, July 21, at noon – Lunch available

Thursday, July 31, at 9 a.m. – Coffee available

Who’s Coming to Arcadia This Fall?

Some incoming first-year students are already making news. The May 31 issue of The Republican reports that Monson (Mass.) High School salutatorian Victoria A. LeMay spoke about the importance of friendship at her high school graduation. “As we campaign for success and achieve our goals, we must take our friends with us and in return, accompany them on their ascent,” LeMay was quoted as saying. The paper reported that LeMay will attend Arcadia to study child psychology and political science. “I'm excited to go away and meet new people, but I will miss the closeness and familiarity of Monson,” LeMay said.

First-year students are invited to share their news by e-mailing information to UR@arcadia.edu. Parents and friends can subscribe to the Arcadia Bulletin or receive Arts@Arcadia e-news at Join our e-mail list.

Summer Orientation Important for New Students

Summer Orientation is fast approaching for incoming first-year and transfer students. Orientation is an important first step in the Arcadia experience. New students will make course selections and meet fellow classmates for the upcoming year.

The Summer Orientation component of the Arcadia University New Student Orientation program is the time that new students complete academic inventories that will help them place into appropriate classes. Inventories are given for writing, modern languages, mathematics and, for some students, physical science. Students will then select possible courses for the Fall semester.

Different days have been designated for first-year and transfer students. This summer, Orientation days for first-year students are June 19, June 27, July 10, and July 11. For transfer students, the dates are June 13, July 18, and Aug. 15. There will be a two-day program June 20-21 for students participating in the Fall 2008 First-Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE) program and their families. New full-time students are required to attend one of the days and should use the response card they received in the mail or use the online form on MyArcadia to indicate their preferred day. For more information, contact Student Affairs at success@arcadia.edu.

Parents and families are encouraged to attend Summer Orientation. Programs are designed to answer questions concerning campus services, academic resources, residence and commuter life, financial aid, and many other topics. Read more.

Photos Capture Color and Drama of Commencement

Study abroad sashes—representing countries where Arcadia students studied abroad—made a colorful display at the University's Commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16. Campus was packed with the friends and family of 475 graduate students and 435 undergraduates who received degrees. Half of the undergraduates wore sashes representing their study abroad credits. The graduate ceremony also included hooding of eight Doctor of Education candidates and five Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates. University Photographer Josh Blustein was on hand for both events. Visit www.arcadia.edu/commencement for links to about 400 photos on Shutterfly—and look for yourself!

Want to Tell a Senator What Study Abroad Means?

“If you came back from your study abroad experience wanting to tell someone the amazing things you learned, now’s the time. Tell your Senator what study abroad meant to you,” said Lori Bauer, Director of University Relations. The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act, which would help support 1 million U.S. students studying abroad annually, is currently being “held up” in the U.S. Senate, according to the NAFSA Web site, which adds, “This bill represents all that our field stands for: peace, understanding, and global literacy.” With the #2 OpenDoors national ranking in study abroad participation, Arcadia University has a leadership role in study abroad. Faculty and students are in a unique position to comment on this national agenda item. To send an e-mail to a Senator, visit the NAFSA Web site or NAFSA’s Facebook page.

Foundations Inc. Partners with Arcadia in Afterschool Education

Foundations' Center for Afterschool Education and Arcadia University are partnering to launch a new 15-credit online Graduate Certificate in Afterschool Education. The Certificate equips out-of-school-time leaders with the skills to develop and manage programming for afterschool and summer learning that enhances the academic, social, and emotional needs of children and youth. The certificate program begins with a three-day Institute followed by three online courses and an applied learning project. The Institute will be held at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., Aug. 15-17, 2008. To register or for more information, click here or call 1-888-977-KIDS (5437).

Campus Happenings

Knight Star Organizers Earn Gold Leaf from Autism Speaks

Adjunct Professor Holly Neibauer,Cate Rooney, Vice President of the Class of 2009, and the many student organizers of Knight Star—where Arcadia undergrads battle it out (ala American Idol) on stage in Stiteler Auditorium—have been awarded a Gold Leaf award for Team Fundraising by Autism Speaks, Walk Now for Autism. Neibauer, whose daughter, Robyn, was diagnosed with autism at a young age, has involved her students in numerous fund-raising and consciousness-raising events for charities in the Philadelphia area. This spring Neibauer received Arcadia’s Adjunct Faculty Award, a recognition of how her personal attention and teaching style make English class an enjoyable learning experience for so many first-year students.

Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments

Loeffler’s Art is in the Air and the Trees, Opening June 6

Work by Carole Loeffler, Assistant Professor Fine Arts and Coordinator of Foundations, will go on display with an opening reception June 6 at 8:30 p.m. at the Abington Art Center. Hovering Above includes work installed on the Sculpture Park Grounds at the Abington Art Center and takes the sculptures off the ground and puts them in the air and in the trees.

“My work will be installed at least until November but may remain up for two years. It will be dark out for the opening reception—so, bring a flashlight or plan to come to the park some other day,” says Loeffler. “There is an indoor exhibition in conjunction with the outdoor installations that you will be able to view during the reception.” Hovering Above also features outdoor sculptures by Roberley Bell, Sylvia Benitez, Jamie Dillon and Nick Paparone, Caroline Lathan-Stiefel, Mike Ross, and Gail Simpson and Aris Georgiades.

upcoming events

Music Critic to Speak at Community Scholars Event, June 17

The Community Scholars program hosts its annual “Author Talks” program on Tuesday, June 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Grey Towers Castle. David Patrick Stearns, classical music critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer, will speak. There will be a light brunch with the talk for $15. Advance registration is required. To register call Linda Diamond at 215-572-2122 or e-mail her at diamond@arcadia.edu.

Foreign Correspondence

Share Your Study Abroad Experience!

University Relations is looking for study abroad experiences from current Arcadia students and alumni. Let us know—through writings, photos, videos or audio clips—what you learned and how it has impacted your life. Experiences will be posted as part of Arcadia's celebration of 60 years of studying abroad and may be used in other University publications. Visit www.arcadia.edu/studyabroadmemories for guidelines and submission forms.

Publication Information

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